Wellington W5531 at Driffield airfield.
At 11.45hrs on 9th September 1941 this 104 Squadron aircraft was damaged following a heavy landing at Driffield. The aircraft was being flown on a non-operational flight at the time and the pilot had held off landing, he attempted to apply power but before the aircraft picked up flying speed a wing dropped then made a heavy landing on one wheel.
Pilot - P/O Percy Alexander Huggins RAF (102993).
Crew - Names unknown.
Peter Huggins' life is well documented on the internet so I see no need to re-hash other perfectly good accounts of his life (apart from many obituaries stating he was a fighter pilot when he wasn't). In brief received a commission in August 1941 and completed a Tour with 104 Squadron for which he received the DFC, Gazetted on 7th July 1942. He later flew with 220 Squadron. Post-war he returned to his former career of being a golf correspondant for newspapers and later radio golf commentary for many years for which he became a house-hold name. He died in 2000.
Wellington W5531 was built to contract B.71441/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Weybridge and was awaiting collection in May 1941. It was received by 12 MU on 11th May 1941 and after a short period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 104 Squadron at Driffield on 10th June 1941. It sustained battle damage on 15th July 1941 which saw Cat.Ac/FB damage be the damage assessment. It was repaired on site and returned to 104 Squadron. The damage sustained on 9th September 1941 would have seen Cat.Ac/FA damage be the damage assessment which saw it again repaired on site. It was repaired on site and returned to 104 Squadron on 8th November 1942. The squadron records list that it sustained minor damage on 10th January 1942 it returned to base early during an operational flight but overshot and was very slightly damaged. This is not on it's AM Form 78. It's AM Form 78 does rceord that it received minor Cat.Ac/FB battle damage on 21st January 1942. Both incidents would have seen it repaired on site. It was returned to 104 Squadron on 31st January 1942. On 14th February 1942 this was one of 104 Squadron 'C'Flight aircraft transferred when 158 Squadron formed at Driffield (though the date on the AM78 states 31st January 1942 (before they existed). The aircraft was then transferred to 405 Squadron at Pocklington on 11th March 1942. On 13th April 1942 it suffered an engine fire on Ops to Essen and crashed near Stowmarket, Suffolk with two of the then crew being killed. Cat.E2/FB damage was recorded. It was struck off charge on 18th April 1942.